Cinnamon scented pine cones are a great addition to your Christmas decor, and they make great Christmas gifts.
You can purchase them #ad in a store for about $10 for 12-20 pine cones or you can make your own for much less money, especially if you are making more than 20.
Here are the step by step instructions for how to make cinnamon scented pine cones.
photo courtesy of Rachael Ludwick flickr.com/photos/raludwick/10655055975/Collect
Collect however many pine cones you want.
You can collect them from your yard or ask your neighbors if you can collect them from their yards.
Be careful collecting them from parks and forests since many have restrictions about removing pine cones.
If you don't have pine trees near you, you can buy a bag of plain unscented pine cones at most craft stores for just a few dollars.
Bake
In order to kill the bugs, you should bake your pine cones.
Cover a cookie sheet in aluminum foil and put one layer of pine cones on top.
Bake the pine cones at 200 degrees for about 45 minutes.
Check on them every 15 minutes or so to make sure they don't burn.
The pine cones will open up more as they bake, which is actually a good thing since it gives them a fuller and prettier look.
After removing the pine cones, let them cool before touching.
Essential Oil Method
One method for making cinnamon scented pine cones is to use essential oils.
Cinnamon scented essential oil #ad sells for about $3 to $10 (more exclusive brands sell for more) and can scent many pine cones since you only need a few drops.
Add a few tablespoons of water and a few drops of cinnamon essential oil to a small spray bottle.
Put the pine cones in a plastic bag and spray them with the mixture.
Mix the pine cones around and spray again.
You can also add a few drops of other complementary scents like clove, nutmeg, or orange essential oil to make the scent more interesting.
Let the pine cones dry completely before putting them out since the scent will be stronger once they are fully dry.
Dry Spice Method
You can use dry spices to make cinnamon scented pine cones.
Gather dried cinnamon #ad (you probably already have this in your kitchen).
You might also like to add cloves.
Use spray adhesive or brush on glue to your pine cones.
Put the pine cones in a plastic bag and pour in the dry spices.
Mix them around many times to distribute the spices to the glue on the pine cones.
Take them out of the bag and let them dry fully.
The dry spice method gives the pine cones a more rustic and natural look since you can actually see the spices on them. This method tends to leave a little residue so keep that in mind when deciding where to display them.
Cinnamon Stick Method
Another option is to tie cinnamon sticks directly onto your pine cones with a piece of twine or ribbon.
This method is the easiest and quickest of all since there is no drying time involved.
Bundle two or three cinnamon sticks together and tie them tightly onto the pine cone.
This also makes them look really pretty and gift ready.
Display Ideas
Once your pine cones are fully dry and scented you can display them in a lot of different ways.
Put them in a large glass bowl or vase on your coffee table or kitchen counter.
Fill a wooden bowl or tray with them and add a few pillar candles for a simple and pretty Christmas centerpiece.
Scatter them around the base of your Christmas tree or along your mantle.
You can also put them in a basket by your front door to welcome guests with the smell of cinnamon when they walk in.
A Little Extra
If you want to make your pine cones look even more festive, consider adding a few extra decorative touches.
Brush the tips of the pine cone scales lightly with white paint or white glitter glue to make them look like they have a dusting of snow on them.
Tie a piece of red or plaid ribbon around the base of each pine cone to make them look more festive and gift ready.
You can also lightly spray paint the tips gold or silver for a more elegant look.
Gift Ready
Cinnamon scented pine cones make really thoughtful and inexpensive Christmas gifts.
Put a dozen or so in a pretty basket or a clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon.
You can also put them in a mason jar with a handwritten tag for a simple and charming homemade gift.
Most people love receiving them since they smell amazing and look great as Christmas decor.
How Long Does the Scent Last?
The cinnamon scent on your pine cones will typically last for one whole Christmas season.
If the scent starts to fade, you can refresh them by putting them back in a plastic bag and adding a few more drops of cinnamon essential oil or a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
Store them in an airtight container or bag between Christmas seasons to help preserve the scent for next year.
Also read the article How to Decorate for Christmas Using Pine Cones.
